Memory of Water

A poetic and melancholy debut.

Itäranta’s lyrical style makes this dystopian tale a beautiful exploration of environmental ethics and the power of ritual.

Melancholy and yet hopeful; beautiful and yet honest about the reality of ugliness; Memory of Water is a carefully crafted, finely observed, and ultimately deeply moving novel.

Brilliant, lyrical prose… Itäranta’s writing is almost a song, working like a melody that sticks in your head more than a series of words that flow by.

The writing is gorgeous and delicate in this dystopian award-winning debut, which is unique in both its setting and the small scale that Finnish author Itäranta employs… the tension is high even though the pacing remains measured.

Itäranta’s fine debut is lyrically rendered, vivid and engaging.

Where Itäranta shines is in her rejection of conventional plots and in her understated but compelling characters. The work is a deceptively tranquil examination of a world of dust and ashes where the tenacious weed of hope still survives.

Memory of Water‘s story deals more in atmosphere than action, but is no less involving for that; Itäranta’s steady piling on of pressure on her protagonist grips, even as her prose soothes.

This novel will attract two audiences – those who enjoy a good YA dystopian adventure, and those who enjoy an adventure with a few strong female characters fighting against the system. It is simultaneously a coming-of-age story, a fantastic adventure, and a bold warning about a future that is all too real.